Gas holder



.my 1.5, A1924. 1.5011268 A. F. BRIDGE GAS HOLDER Filed Dec. '7. '1921 Patented July l5, 1924.

ARTHUR F. BRIDGE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0. IVIORETON R. THOMPSON AND ONE-FOURTHTO FRANKLIN S. WADE, BOTH OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ses HOLDER.

Application nled December 7, 1921. Serial No. 520,534.

T all 107mm t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. BRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles,

State of California., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas I-Iolders, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates, to gas holders of the general type referred to in my U. S. Patent No. 1,426,145', dated Aug. 15th, 1922, gas holders. In said patent I explain a type of holder, wherein the gas, upon being pumped or fed into ,the gas chamber, displaces water therefrom into an upper chamber through a connecting pipe that opens into the lower chamber near its bottom. In such an arrangement the two chambers are of substantially equal size, the upper chamber being large enough to hold all of the water which, when the gas holder is empty, completely fills the lower chamber. Consequently, in such an arrangement, the water chamber must be of equal capacity with the gas chamber. i

The present invention has to do with improvements in the gas holder shown in said Patent 1,426,145; and the main object of this present invention, together with that explained in another co-pending applica# tion, filed on even date herewith, Serial No. 520,583, entitled Gas holders, isto reduce the total size of the gas holder, in proportion to its gas capacity. In accordance with the presentinvention I provide, instead of a single gas chamber, a plurality. of gas chambers, and provide but a single water chamber to serve all of the gas chambers; so that, by making a gasholder with say three gas chambersand one water chamber it is only necessary. to have a water chamber that is approximately one-quarter the size Y of the complete holder. Of course, by increasing the number of the gas chambers further, even this proportion may be reduced. the number of chambers into which any given holder .may be subdivided, and therefore, no theoretic limit to` the `number of gas chambers that may be served by one water chamber; but vof course in practice there is a most economical number of gas Theoretically, there is noy limit to i chambers which may be served from one water chamber. Ifl the number of gas chambers is increased too much, the increased cost of. construction becomes greater than kthe saving.

The above described broad feature of this invention is common subject matter between this application and said eo-pending appli-- cation filed on even date herewith, Serial No. 520,583; that' broad feature being inthe use of. a plurality of gas chambers served by a single water chamber. The distinction between these two applications is this: That whereas in said co-pending application the gas is stored in the various chambers under different pressures, in the device of this present application the gas is stored in the various `chambers under equal pressures and the claims in this present application will be (so far as the situation between the various ap-l plications is concerned) limited to the multiple gas chamber structure in which the gas is stored -at equal pressures; while said copending application carries, besides the claimsspecifically to'structure for storage of gas at dierent pressures, also the broader claims to the broad feature of a plurality ofY gas chambers served by a single water chamber.

`The invention will now be-` best under-v stood from the following detailed description of a preferred and specific form of apparatus that embodies the invention, reference for this purpose being had to the ac-v companying drawings in which i Fig. l is a diagrammatic view in vertical section` illustrating the Vholder and its charging andsdischarging system; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionshowing they valve operating mechanism.

It will be understood of course thatV in the accompanying drawings, as in this Specification, I explain only the simple elements of the holder, and its accompanying apparatus; fit being unnecessary to enter into details as to construction of the walls andpartitions of the holder, and their bracing or staying against pressure, andfunnecessary to enter into' details of constructions of such things as valves and regulators, as all such are well known.

rIn the drawings I illustrated diagrammatically a tank construction, which may typically be a steel tank that is divided into three gas chambers 10, 11 and 12, and a water chamber 13, by partitions 14, 15 and 16. Chambers 10, 11 and 12 are preferably of equal size, while chamber 13 is somewhat larger than the gas chambers, in order to hold the excess quantity'of water which' 1s necessary as hereinafter explained. The 1nlet pipe for the system leads in at 2O through a pressure regulator R1 and a check valve 21, communicating with a pipe 22. Outlet pipe 23 also communicates through its regulator R2 and check valve 24, with the pipe 22. Pipe 22 and pipes 25, 26, and 27, which connect with pipe 22 and connect into the tops of the gas chambers- 10, 11 and 12, respectively, form the piping system for introducing and withdrawing gas to and from the chambers. Each chamber has a water communication from a point near its bottom to a point near the bottom of the chamber immediately above; and this waterV communication is formed by a stand pipe 30 with branches 31, 32, 33 and 34 leading to the bottoms of the four chambers. In the water communication thus formed between the chambers 10 and 11 there is a valve 35; and in the Water communication thus formed between the chambers 11 and 12 there is a valve 36. On the gas pipe 25 there is a valve 37, and on the gas pipe 26 there are two valves at 38 and 39; while on the gas pipe 27 there is a valve 40. In addition to the gas and water piping systems, there are two air pipes 41 and 42 that lead from the tops of chambers 11 and 12, respectively; and these pipes are controlled by valves 43 and 44, respectively. Valves'35, 37, 38 and 43 are all operated by a common valve stem 45 which is moved by a piston 46 that is subjected, by means of communicating pipe 47, to the water pressure in the stand pipe 30 near its bottom. Likewise, the valves 36, 39, 40 and 44 are all operated by a common valve stem 48, that is operated by a piston 49 subjected, through pipe 50, to the water pressure in the standpipe 30 at a point near the bottom oi chamber 11. The arrangement is such that when a suflicient pressure is exerted on piston 46, then valves 35, 37, and 43 are closed,

and valve 38 is open; while when the pressure is relieved, valves 35, 37. and 43 are opened, and valve 38 is closed. Similarly, when suliicient pressure is exerted on piston 49, then valves 36, 39 and 44 are closed, and valve 40 is open; while when the pressure is relieved, valves 36, 39 and 44 are open and valve 40 is closed.l Many different mechanical arrangements may be made for effecting these operations; 'I simply show a typical mechanical arrangement. For instance, the 'movement of the piston toward the right may be opposed by a suitable spring 51 (see the detail in Fig. 2) and a screw-threadedly adjustable follower 52 may be used to regulate the pressure of the spring 51; so as to regulate the pressure at which the various valves will open and close.

The holder is first charged with the required amount of water; enough to till the lower chamber 10 and to till the next chamber 11 up to about the level indicated at L. lVhen gas is sent in under suitable pressure through the pipes and 22, it passes through pipe into the upper part of chamber 10, displacing the water in that cham-' ber, and the water passes up through pipe and through branch pipe 33 into chamber 11, until that chamber is iilled, and then the water passes on up through pipe 30 and through branch pipe 32 into chamber 12; so that when chamber 10 is full of gas then the water level stands about as indicated at L1 in chamber 12. It is at the pressure of this head of water that the full charge of gas in chamber 10 is stored. As soon as the water level reaches this point, the pressure on piston 46 is suticient to move that piston toward the right and to close valves 35, 37 and 43, and to open valve 38. Valve 43 has been open up to this time, and has allowed the air in chamber 11 to escape. The pipe 41 may have an inverted trap 41El that will prevent the escape of water.

As soon as the valves have moved to their last described positions, then the inlowing gas will flow through pipe 26 and through the open valve 38 and through valve 39, which at that time is also open, and into the upper part of chamber 11, displacing the water in that chamber and forcing it up through stand pipe 30 into the next chamber 12; and as soon as that chamber is full of water, then through the standpipe 30 and branch 31 into the water chamber 13. Then chamber 11 is Jfull or" gas, then the water level stands at L2 in chamber 13; and then the pressure on the piston 49 is sulticient to close the valves 36, 39 and 44 and to open the valve 40. The valve 44 is the air escape valve on air pipe 42, and has allowed the air in chamber 12 to escape. This pipe may also have an inverted trap 42a to prevent escape of water. f

Then the gas passes up through pipe 27 and through open valve into the upper part of chamber 12, displacing the water in that chamber and forcing it up through pipe 30 and branch pipe 31 into the water chamber 13, until the chamber 12 is filled with gas. llVhen chamber 12 is Filled with gas then the water level stands at approximately the point shownv at L3, near the top of chamber 13. The-holder is now iilled to capacity; and it will be noted' that each one of the gas chambers has been iilled with gas under the same pressure as the others, and when filled has been closed olf from the others by the action of the valves. Then the holder is full, there is no gas communication between the several gas chambers, and further there is no water communication to any of the gas chambers except the upper most; these communications having been shut off by the closure of the several valves.

lVhen gas is withdrawn from the holder the reverse operation takes place. When the holder is full, the only gas line that is open is the pipe line 27, in which the valve 40 is open. Consequently, when the gas is withdrawn through outlet pipe 23, gas will first be withdrawn from the chamber 12, allowing the water from chamber 13 to -iiow into chamber 12 to displace the gas therein. The minimum pressure under which the gas is withdrawn, and the pressure that the regu'- lator R2 is set to draw ofi', is that pressure that is caused by the head of water standing at level L2 in water chamber 15 when chamber 12is full, or substantially full, of water and the last of the gas is being withdrawn from that chamber. Vhen the water level reaches L2 again, then the pressure on piston 49 is relieved, and the valves connected to that piston move to the positions shown in F ig. 1. This closes the valve 40 and opens the valves 36, 39 and 44; and then gas begins to flow out of chamber 11 into the delivery pipe, allowing the water to come down into chamber 11 and allowing the water level to iall in chamber 12. At this time the valve 44 is open, allowing air to enter chamber 12 to relieve the vacuum that would otherwise be formed there. As soon as the gas chamber 11 is exhausted of gas and the water lc-vel has fallen again to L1, then the pressure on piston 46 is relieved, and the lower piston moves to its position shown in F ig. 1, closing valve 38 and opening valves 35, 37 and 43. Valve 43 being open, allows air to enter chamber 11 as the water level falls in that chamber, and valve 37 allo-ws the4 gas to be withdrawn from chamber 10. As the gas is withdrawn from that chamber, the water passes down through standpipe 30 and branch pipe 34 into the chamber 10, rising in that chamber as gas is displaced; and when all the gas has been withdrawn, the water level stands again at L.

It will of course be understood that this description is merely typical of devices that may be made in accordance with my invention. The various details may be varied. l have explained specific details not to limit the invention but tor clearly andyfully describe one form` of it. The number of gas chambers may be varied; the only limit in this form of holder is the structural limit to the height of the tank. Of course the several chambers need not be built in the same structure; it is only necessary that they be arranged at levels that will cause the water to flow between themY and the water chamber. Consequently I do not wish the inverttion to be'limited except as may be expressly stated in the following claims.

An advantage of this specific type ol holderis that the lower chamber or chambers only have to be constructed heavily enough to hold the pressure due to the static water head as described: for instance, as for chamber 10, the head when the water level is at L1. If anything should' occur in the valve system to allow thel water from upe-rmost chamber 13 access toi chamber 10 for instance, an excessive pressure would be put on it. The putting of a dangerous pressure on that chamber can be relieved by any suitable vthe upper chamber 13 mayrhave a roof 59 ff with an air vent 58.

Having described a invention, I claim:

1. A gas holder of the water displacement type, characterized by a plurality of separate gas chambers and a water chamber, gas communication tot each gas chamber, water communication between the several gas chambers and the water chamber, and means to close the water communication to a chamber when it is filled with gas.

2. A gas holder of the water displacement type, characterized by a plurality of separate gas chambers and a water chamber, gas communication to each gas chamber, water communication between the several gas preferred form of my chambers and the water chamber, and means to close the water and gas communication to a chamber when it is filled with gas.

A gas holder of the water displacement type, characterized by a plurality of gas chambers and a water chamber, gas com munication to each gas chamber, water communication between the several gas chambers and the water chamber, and means to il.

close the water communication to a chamber when it is filled with gas; the gas chambers being arranged at successively higher levels and the water chamber above all the gas chambers.

4. The gas holder of claim 1, further characterized by valves actuated by the water pressure in the chambers to close the water communication to a chamber'.

5. The gas holder of claim 1, further characterized by valves actuated by the water pressure in the chambers to close the water and gas communication to a chamber.

6. A gas holder of the water displacement type, characterized by a plurality of lllO gas chambers arranged at successively higher levels and awater chamber above the highest gas chamber, a gas inlet and discharge pipe leading into the top` of each gas chamber, an air pipe leading to the top of all the gas chambers except the lovvermost chamber, a Water intercommunication pipe the gas chambers except the lowermost chamber a Water intercommunication pipe leading into the bottom of each of the chambers, valves on each of said pipes, and pressure operated means subjected to the Water pressure in the Water communication pipe to open and close said valves.

7 A gas holder of the Water displacement type, characterized by a plurality of separate gas chambers arranged one above an other and a Water chamber above the highest gas chamber, Water communication between the bottom of each chamber and the bottom of the chamber next above it, gas communication to each gas chamber for the introduction of gas to displace Water into a chamber above, and valvular means actuated by virtue of the changing Water level to control the Water and gas communications.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of November, 1921.

ARTHUR F. BRIDGE.

Witness:

VIRGINIA BERINGER. 

